“LABOR was in government for 16 years and we got some policies very right, but we need to make sure we listen more,” Shadow Minister and Deputy Leader in the Legislative Council Clare Scriven said upon her election.
The newly elected Labor MLC said a stronger emphasis on regional areas and the Limestone Coast would be among her main priorities in the party room.
“I’ll be making sure the Labor caucus hear, and hear loudly, the issues in regional Australia,” she said.
“Peter Malinauskas said he is keen to get out to regional areas as well as metropolitan seats.
“Labor was in government for 16 years and we got some policies very right, but we need to make sure we listen more.
“The regions are going to have an additional voice in the caucus with Eddie Hughes in the lower house, which is a good thing.”
Ms Scriven and the outback-based MP currently sat on the shadow cabinet, with Mr Hughes serving as the shadow primary industries and regional development minister.
The Port MacDonnell resident said she would seek to fully fund an additional electoral office in the region, given her dual portfolio of forestry and industry and skills.
“Now I am elected, I can talk with parliament services about the arrangements,” she said.
“It is certainly my hope to open an office in Mount Gambier.
“I do not want to pull at the public purse and I am very happy to fund it myself.
“Given the new Liberal Government has said they want to focus on decentralisation, I hope this request will be in line with that.”
